Des Moines Business Lawyers

Since starting my practice in 2003, I have emphasized the provision of competent legal services at a cost which is adjusted for the client's particular situation. Hiring a lawyer is expensive for many reasons, but to the extent possible, I have tried to right size the fees we charge the client with the client's household income.

I focus my practice primarily in the family law area and have a great deal of experience in divorces, annulments, legal separations, child support modifications, parenting plan modifications and non parental custody cases.

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The R. D. Kelly Law Firm provides outstanding legal services to plaintiffs in personal injury cases. We negotiate and litigate. We engage in alternative dispute resolution. We try cases to judges or juries. We get awesome results for our clients.

Jim has extensive federal and state trial and appellate experience in a wide range of civil litigation matters, having served as defense counsel in product liability claims involving asbestos, prescription medications, naturopathic compounds, medical devices, sports safety helmets, and other products. He also has considerable experience with building and construction defect claims on behalf of contractors, building owners, and occupants as well as fire loss and property damage claims, including business interruption, loss of use, and loss of access claims.

Insight Law is a local tax law firm with 4 offices in the greater Seattle area. We handle all tax matters, including those related to Income, Employment, Property, B&O, and Estate and Gift taxes. We pride ourselves on providing the best service, value, and knowing our areas of law inside and out. Whether you have a tax problem or need estate planning or small business services, we can provide efficient, knowledgeable and compassionate representation. QUALITY: At Insight Law, we provide top-notch representation from experienced attorneys in the Seattle Area. VALUE: At Insight Law, we use a...

Eric represents victims of wrongful termination, unfair wage and hour practices, workplace harassment, and discrimination; whistleblowers who suffer retaliation after standing up for themselves or others; and entrepreneurs crossed by former business partners. As a civil litigator and class action attorney, he routinely assists individuals and entities in employment litigation, consumer protection actions, and complex business and contract lawsuits. Eric has prevailed in numerous appellate cases supporting worker rights, including before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Washington Supreme Court.

Mindful that most people seldom interact with the legal system, Eric uses his knowledge and experience to guide his...

Sal practices in state and federal courts throughout the state of Washington and has litigated most of the Western states as well. One focus of Sal’s practice is medical negligence, wrongful death, and serious injury cases. Sal has represented patients who have been injured as a result of doctors, nurses, and emergency room physicians making mistakes resulting in death, paralysis, brain injuries and loss of life or harm to babies. Sal has brought actions against Multicare, CHI Franciscan, Harborview, Children’s Hospital, and Swedish Medical center among others. Sal’s cases have involved surgeons, OBGYN doctors, Emergency Department...

Joe Gordon, Jr. joined GTH in 1968 and has been a pillar of the firm and of the legal community in the Pacific Northwest for many years. He has tried superior court cases involving a wide range of civil litigation matters in 26 of Washington’s 39 counties. As a Washington State Assistant Attorney General, he served as a trial attorney for the Department of Labor & Industries in both the Olympia and Seattle offices.

In private practice, Joe has regularly represented rental property owners and management companies on landlord-tenant matters. He has also represented both employers and injured workers on industrial...

Eric’s practice focuses on the representation of individuals and business organizations in a variety of commercial contexts, including planning, organizing, and financing business entities, handling business and real estate transactions, advising on contract and employment issues, and litigating commercial disputes. He is admitted to practice in Washington and Oregon. Eric received his B.A. from the Honors Program at the University of Washington, where he rowed on the varsity crew team, and his J.D. cum laude from Seattle University. He has been named to the list of Washington Rising Stars in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Christopher Small is the owner of CMS Law Firm LLC, the Northwest's premiere estate planning, probate, and trust administration law firm. CMS Law Firm focuses on estate planning for one reason - legacy and family protection are at the forefront of their philosophy and beliefs. Christopher is the proud father of three kids, Blakely, Jackson, and Dillon, and understands how important it is to make sure families have the protection and safety they need to excel no matter the circumstances.

Some of the routine matters we handle include, wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney, health care...

Scott Ellerby is a partner in the firm. His main areas of practice are real estate litigation, probate, trusts and estates litigation, municipal law, creditor-debtor law, commercial transactions and commercial litigation. He has lectured at numerous legal seminars over the past 25 years on topics in his practice areas, and has represented a wide range of private clients and public entities in negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and bench and jury trials. Scott was a contributing author of the Washington Lawyers Practice Manual, and was chair of the King County Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Section. He earned his B.A....

My practice provides clients with personal legal services in estate planning, real estate and business planning. I use a non-traditional style of doing business that is designed to meet clients' needs when they arise, through responsiveness and efficient, one-on-one communication.

Bilingual Mandarin Chinese and English attorney. Admitted to the New York State Bar, Washington State Bar, and qualified to the Chinese Bar. Has attorney experience both in the U.S. and in Beijing, China. Mainly focus on the U.S. immigration law, business law, and China practice.

Alykhan Sunderji has over a decade of experience advising businesses large and small. Prior to founding Sunder Legal, Alykhan led the legal team for Amazon Fashion, the largest apparel retailer in the United States. Before fashion, Alykhan led the legal team for Amazon Canada, the largest e-commerce retailer in Canada. Alykhan started his legal career at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York City, where he practiced Mergers & Acquisitions. During this time, Alykhan worked closely with the investment teams at Apollo Global Management. Alykhan obtained his law degree from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law,...

A native of Washington, Joanne takes a Northwest approach to practicing law. Joanne welcomes the opportunity to help her clients develop outside-the-box solutions that are designed to avoid protracted litigation. However, if the dispute needs to be settled in Court, she is no stranger to the Courtroom and welcomes the challenge. She became a partner with Garvey, Schubert & Barer in Seattle in 1999 and later moved to Gordon Thomas Honeywell as a partner in 2008.

Her primary areas of practice include defense litigation, products liability, construction, insurance defense and coverage, broker and agency defense, and appellate advocacy....

A valued GTH partner, Julie Dickens has been with the firm since 1999. She focuses her practice on estate planning, real estate, and general business, representing individuals and their closely held businesses in all stages of their planning. Besides Wills, trusts, prenuptial agreements and probates, she helps her clients with entity formation, shareholder agreements, real estate purchase and sale agreements, leases, easements, and financing transactions.

Julie enjoys her practice because it offers her the opportunity to interact personally with her clients as she learns their life stories and collaborates with them to develop effective strategies for securing their future. She...

A Seattle native, Mike Ricketts received his undergraduate degree from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law. He focuses his practice on civil trial work including property and casualty insurance disputes and other commercial matters, and asbestos and other personal injury and product liability litigation.

He has considerable experience with fire claims and property losses involving product failure, electrical malfunction, or construction issues. He also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to appeals.

As a fourth generation Washington lawyer, Hunter developed an early interest in the legal profession. He was drawn to the profession’s challenges and complexities, as well as the sound judgment required of good lawyers. Hunter pursued his interest at the University of Washington School of Law. There he researched and authored reports on modern legal issues for Law School Dean Kellye Testy and served as managing editor of the Washington International Law Journal. Hunter also served as a legal extern to United States District Court Judge Robert J. Bryan. Hunter’s practice areas include business and commercial litigation, municipal liability, insurance...

RUSSELL LAW OFFICES provides legal services to clients in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington from offices in Seattle's historic Pioneer Square and Boise's Empire Building. Our regional practice emphasizes environmental, natural resource, real estate, and business matters. We also engage in litigation and provide mediation, trustee, and business management services. Our numerous clients include individuals, small to medium sized businesses, corporations, public agencies and start-ups. Prior to opening Russell Law Offices, Mr. Russell was of counsel with the firms of Neubauer Hunsinger and Ryan Swanson in Seattle. He also served as Regional Administrator of EPA's Region 10...

Alex grew up on his family’s apple farm in Brewster, Washington. He learned every trade required to run a farm, but specialized in being the certified “gopher.” Alex graduated from high school ranked 2nd in the nation and top 25 in the World for his age in downhill ski racing. Alex studied at Jerusalem University in Israel, completed undergraduate studies from Seattle Pacific University, and finished his legal education at Seattle University School of Law where he was the Graduation Speaker. Alex learned trial skills by working as a Prosecutor for King...

For the past 30 years, she has represented businesses and individuals interfacing with the government; she helps businesses and individuals obtain all types of zoning and land use permits, assists individuals facing government compliance and penalty actions and represents individuals with property disputes about easements, boundaries and adverse possession. She also obtains licenses for all types of business enterprises. Ms. Koler frequently challenges arbitrary requirements associated with government compliance and land use permitting. See Guimont v. Clark, 121 Wn.2d 586 (Washington Supreme Court invalidated state law imposing mobile home relocation fee on developer); Berst v. Snohomish...

Since joining the firm in 1994, Stephanie has worked on a wide variety of cases representing clients in employment, business and injury litigation, as well as estate litigation and business disputes. She also represents clients in matters involving misappropriation of trade secrets, noncompetition contracts, Consumer Protection Act claims, unfair competition issues, contract disputes and consults on matters of legal ethics.

In her commercial litigation practice, Stephanie focuses on complex business disputes, disputes between members of closely held companies and trust and estate litigation. She represents corporations, closely held businesses, fiduciaries as well as individual parties involved in these types of...

John Guadnola is a seasoned attorney with an extensive background and impressive record of success in his practice areas, which include antitrust litigation, alcohol regulation, copyright and trademark litigation, and complex litigation. As Executive Director and General Counsel of the Association of Washington Spirits & Wine Distributors, John is also actively involved in alcohol regulation issues on the legislative level and enforcement levels.

As co-lead counsel in a case of national significance (Costco v. Hoen), John represented distributor intervenors in a successful effort to defend Washington State laws governing distribution and sale of beer and wine against an antitrust claim brought...

Kurt represents South Sound businesses and individuals in White Collar Crime matters. He advises clients on corporate criminal risks, federal grand jury investigations, financial crimes, securities frauds, bankruptcy crimes, government contract frauds, real estate schemes, Medicare frauds-and tax frauds. He is GTH’s authority on cybercrime and legal issues relating to cybersecurity and data privacy. His work includes assisting South Sound businesses in creating cybersecurity plans consistent with the US protocols issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He also advises clients on data privacy requirements arising from the European Union’s General Data Privacy Regulations (GDPR)...

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Bill Holt moved gradually westward—with a 7-year stop in Iowa City to pick up his undergraduate and law degrees—until he got to Tacoma in 1970. He has lived and worked here in the Northwest ever since, joining GTH in 1971 after clerking for Judge William T. Beeks in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington.

His primary areas of practice include the purchase and sale of businesses and large commercial real estate projects, as well as intellectual property law, privacy and publicity law, public records law, and finance.

Alan Macpherson’s primary area of practice at GTH is estate planning and taxation. He particularly enjoys working on projects that combine financial and tax as well as legal aspects, such as establishing and monitoring investment LLCs and generation-skipping trusts and helping clients build specific themes into their estate plans, like helping with the education of grandchildren.

Jemima has handled hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of real estate transactions involving almost every sector of the market. Her primary practice areas are commercial and real estate transactions. She has extensive experience with all facets of land use matters including title and survey review, development, and environmental studies and reports.

Her clients include private developers, landowners, purchasers and sellers, landlords and tenants, borrowers and lenders, regional and national banks, universities, non-profit organizations, assisted living facilities, hotels, and homeowner’s associations, each of whom have various business and real estate needs. With the passage of I-502, her work has also...

Lisa Kremer's practice focuses primarily on estate planning, probate, and guardianship. She particularly enjoys working with families to try to resolve issues with a minimum amount of stress and turmoil. Lisa also advises businesses, particularly on trademark, copyright and privacy issues, including HIPPA compliance.

Lisa began her professional career as a journalist. She was an award-winning reporter for The News Tribune. In 2005 she decided to move from writing about people’s problems to helping solve them. She commuted from Tacoma to the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle and graduated in 2008.

Lisa is a Trustee of the Tacoma-Pierce County...

A partner in Mendel Owens PS, Fraser Mendel focuses his practice on corporate law, with special attention to international transactions. Mr. Mendel has extensive experience in the areas of cross-border transactions, direct investment in China, venture capital investments, mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring, international employment issues, technology regulation, and intellectual property. He has over 25 years of experience in international corporate law, including promoting cutting-edge investment and diversification in Asia. Mr. Mendel advises multinational firms and has built a diverse practice representing companies entering the Asian market, particularly in technology industries. He has been the driving force for over...

Early in his career, Don became a part of legal history when he served as counsel at the trial and appellate levels in the famous “snail darter” case (Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill, 437 U.S. 153 [1978]), litigated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The litigation resulted in a successful review by the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition to practicing law in Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, Don has also taught law and served in senior administrative positions at the University of Puget Sound, University of Michigan, and University of Tennessee law schools.

Since joining GTH in 1982, Don’s practice...

I am a lawyer who helps small businesses, nonprofits and individuals with contracts, agreements and business/nonprofit formation and governance. I also am knowledgeable about government and environmental law. After working for an international law firm in New York, I decided I wanted to make a positive, local impact, so I opened my own law firm in Seattle. I earned my BA from Tulane University and my JD from the University of Chicago Law School. I have lived all over the US and am thrilled to called the PNW my home.

I have been practicing bankruptcy and personal injury law in Seattle for over 31 years. I have helped over 5000 individuals get debt free or receive fair compensation for their personal injuries.

Whether working hands-on with clients, or spearheading a novel legal matter, Elijah is dedicated to crafting meaningful and lasting legal solutions for his clients. He provides a wide range of legal services, including intellectual property, corporate, contract and litigation services. Over the years he has learned that the law cannot be practiced in a vacuum. Effective legal assistance requires an understanding of each client's unique business and personal realities. In addition to representing clients with their personal matters, he has successfully assisted with matters including trademark and copyright registrations, cease and desist letters and infringement, civil litigation, settlement negotiations, licensing...

I represent people and businesses. My practice focuses on civil litigation, plaintiffs' personal injury and business law, but I also handles a wide variety of other types of cases. If your case is out of my practice area, I will help you determine the type of lawyer you need to make sure you get to the right person. I earned my law degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 2001 and my bachelors degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Washington School of Business, with a Finance concentration, in 1998. ...

Before earning her law degree, magna cum laude, from Gonzaga University School and joining GTH in 1991, Margaret Archer was a financial analyst for Westinghouse Hanford Company. She puts her business acumen and insight into the world of finance to good use in her position as Chair of our Board of Directors and in her practice areas of land use, real estate litigation and commercial litigation.

Shelly focuses her practice on employment law and litigation, commercial litigation, products liability, construction law, insurance defense and coverage, and appellate advocacy. She represents individuals and businesses in all aspects of commercial and employment disputes and especially enjoys working with clients to help them understand the legal process. Shelly prides herself on being a tough advocate for her clients and finding strategic and creative solutions in tough cases.

Shelly joined GTH in 2011. A graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, she began her legal career in Alaska, first serving as a judicial law clerk for...

Andrea is a trial lawyer with an emphasis in business and employment litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants. She has successfully represented clients litigating shareholder, non-competition, and employment discrimination disputes, and obtained pre-trial injunctions. She has achieved jury verdicts enforcing her clients’ contract rights, represented clients in trust and estates disputes, and obtained protection for vulnerable adults. She also regularly represents clients in the areas of regulatory monitoring and advocacy, including extensive work in alcohol regulation and policy, and with Washington's Liquor and Cannabis Board.

Andrea joined GTH in 2005 after graduating from Seattle University School of Law,...

Ellis McGehee Carter is a distinguished attorney specializing in corporate and tax matters for nonprofit, tax-exempt, and mission-based businesses, alongside advising donors on major gifts. With a profound dedication to serving organizations that make a significant impact, Ms. Carter leverages her extensive experience in nonprofit governance, tax law, and business transactions to provide unparalleled legal guidance. Her expertise extends to navigating complex tax issues for exempt entities, ensuring they remain compliant while advancing their mission. Ms. Carter's adeptness in handling intricate business transactions for nonprofits is evident through her work on reorganizations, the creation of affiliates and subsidiaries, and facilitating mergers,...